McKinsey CEO Bob Sternfels said the consulting firm is using AI to reassess what predicts long-term success, after analyzing two decades of hiring outcomes and finding that candidates who recover from setbacks are more likely to become partners. He said the analysis suggested the firm had been biased toward “perfect marks,” prompting a greater emphasis on resilience in interviews. In a separate look at recruiting trends, LinkedIn UK country manager Janine Chamberlin told CNBC that 2026 will bring broader adoption of AI tools in hiring and that recruiters are increasingly using them to surface “hidden gem” candidates.

Highlights:

• Partner class size: McKinsey promoted just over 200 people to partner in December, a smaller group than recent years; The Wall Street Journal described it as one of the smallest classes in years.
• Pay structure: McKinsey partners typically earn under $500,000 in base pay, with the potential for additional compensation through bonuses and profit sharing.
• Application volume: The firm receives about 1 million résumés a year and hires less than 1% of applicants, underscoring how competitive its funnel remains even as criteria evolve.
• 2026 adoption push: LinkedIn’s UK head said AI tools are becoming more widely used in recruiting in 2026, with the stated goal of helping employers spot strong candidates who might otherwise be overlooked.

It turned out we had some bias in our system - Bob Sternfels

Perspectives:

• McKinsey & Company (Bob Sternfels): AI-driven analysis of past hiring outcomes is pushing the firm to value resilience and recovery from setbacks more than spotless academic or career records. (Business Insider)
• LinkedIn (Janine Chamberlin): Recruiters are expected to adopt AI more broadly in 2026, using it to identify “hidden gem” talent and helping candidates think differently about how they stand out. (CNBC)

Sources:

• McKinsey CEO Bob Sternfels says AI is changing how the firm views the perfect job candidate - businessinsider.com
• AI is helping recruiters find ‘hidden gem’ talent — a senior LinkedIn exec shares top tips to stand out - cnbc.com
• McKinsey CEO Bob Sternfels Says AI Shows We've Been Too Focused On 'Perfect Marks' - benzinga.com